Tim Alper is a journalist who covers betting news and regulation for CasinoBeats. He joined the CasinoBeats team in May 2025. He reports on breaking news and developments in the world of betting, casinos, and...
Read Full BioIndonesian police have arrested six people in a raid on an SEO firm that officers think worked exclusively with illegal gambling site operators.
The Indonesian media outlet Tribrata News reported that the company, named Garuda Website, informed illegal casino sites that they could expect increased web traffic if they used the company’s services.
A senior West Java Regional Police official told media representatives: “The suspects all had highly structured roles. It was just like a bona fide company. There was an owner and a financial manager who managed income, which stemmed from gambling proceeds.”
The official added: “Beneath these managers was a team of experts. This team was tasked with creating promotional articles and performing search engine optimization for online gambling sites.”
SEO Firm Helped Gambling Operators Boost Google Search Rankings
The police did not disclose the names of the individuals. But officers paraded all six suspects at a press conference, where some wore face masks and others shielded their faces from the cameras.
Officers claimed that the company’s client list included several popular gambling sites such as Masterslot, Cm8, DV188, Slot88, and Aw88.
A police official explained that all of these sites “are widely known among online gamblers and have very large turnovers.”
The official added that Garuda used sophisticated tools, web development skills, and keyword software to ensure the sites ranked high on search engines like Google.
Police said they seized 11 laptops and five desktop PCs “used for SEO operations and content creation,” as well as eight cell phones.
They also confiscated 59 credit and debit cards allegedly used to complete online gambling-related transactions.
They also seized cash assets worth IRP 7 million ($400) and impounded two imported cars: a Mercedes-Benz and a Toyota Calya.
Suspects Face up to 10 Years in Jail
The media outlet, the West Java Police’s official media arm, noted that the suspects could face a jail term of up to 10 years if found guilty. Courts could also fine them up to IDR 10 billion ($614,972).
The police unit stated that its investigation into Garuda was ongoing. It said it would continue to investigate in the hope of exposing a “larger network.”
This will help it eradicate online gambling practices in the West Java region, the unit explained.
Officers urged the public to be more vigilant against all forms of online gambling promotion. They said that this was becoming increasingly prevalent.
A police commissioner said: “We will continue to conduct cyber patrols. And we will take action against all the online gambling perpetrators we find. We also encourage the public to help us. Please report all forms of online gambling activity to the police.”
The country’s police forces are continuing a nationwide crackdown on online gambling networks and influencers who promote them.
Courts in Bali have recently jailed several young women who used their Instagram pages to promote illegal casino platforms.
The Indonesian Marine Corps has also announced that it will start checking soldiers’ cell phones to ensure they are not gambling online.
